Take-up mechanism



NOV. 23, 1948. j H, H, MERwlN ETAL 2,454,329

- lTAKEUP MEGHANISM Filed Nov. 28, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I H. H. Msnw/N A. awr: mou

A rToR/vvfy Nov. 23, 1948. H. MERwlN ET A1.

TAKEUP MEcHANIsM 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Filedl Nov. 28, 1947 /NvE/vrons H. H. MERw/N A cJvrsTRoM A T TORNEV Patented Nov. 23, 1948 ford, VN. J., assignors to Western `ElectricCompany, Incorporated, New York, N, acorpora- `tion of New York `Application November 2s, 1947, serial Noi 783,466

3 Claims. (C1. 57-69I This inventionirelatesto takeup mechanism,

`,and more particularly totakeup mechanisms for `cable stranding machines.

. `.Cable stranding vmachines are composed `of, numerous units depending upon the material employed to construct the cable. Initially, a selected :number of .insulated electrical conductors are withdrawn from supply reels and advanced through units where insulating coverings are .wound spirally on r.thelconductors to complete tllezcaltfle` The nalunit in a stranding. or cable .fformingrmachine `of this type includes a takeup mechanism supporting atakeup ree'l which must be driven .faboutitsuaxis to wind the completed `cable thereon, and aboutanaxis at right angles `to itsownaxisto cause the group of insulated electrical conductors tobeizrotated while advanced longitudinally Athrough the various units whereby the insulating materials `will be wound spirally thereon.

An kobj ect ofthe `present invention is toprovide `a takeup mechanism which is 'simple instructure,

efficiently 4operable and highly practical for advancing material longitudinally, rotating it about 'the center kci" its path of advancement and Winding the 'material on a vtakeup reel.

vWith this and othernobjects inview,4 the inven-y tion comprises -a. .-takeup mechanism having Ya cradle :with relatively. movable centers to support a takeup reel for rotation 'about its` axis, the cradle including meansto support the .reel inagiven position adjacent the centers before 4and after the reel is mounted between theicenters.

'More specically,the supporting means for the Ireelincludes` spaced parallel .bars to locate:the

hubs `of the reel substantially vinaligmnent with thecone centers whereby Irelativemovement of the :cone'centers vwill cause llateral movement of the reel on the bars and lifting of the reel vfrom the `bars as the conelcenters are moved into the hubs ofthe reel. Furthermore, the bars are positioned to receive the reel after the reel-is filled and the cone centers are removed from the hubs thereof. The cradle is formed with a hollow spindle at one end and a, disc-like wheel at the other end the wheel being centrally apertured for the advancement Vof the material -orl cable therethroughi` to be Wound on.the;takeup.. reel. The `spindle is driven to'rotate thev cradle about its axis, Iwhich is at right anglesto 'the axisofithe reel and at the same time a driving means, extending through the hollow spindle, rotates the t-akeup reel about its axis.

Other objects and advantages wi'll be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction 2 with the accompanying drawings, wherein. l I

Fig. 1 is a frontV elevational view of theftakeup mechanism, portions thereof being shown in section; i '2 is a top :plan view ofthe takeup mechanism L Fig-..,3 is anend elevational view of the takeup :mechanism looking from the'left ofv Fig. l; and

Fig. 411s an endyelevational view of the takeup mechanism, looking from` the right-of Fig. 1. I iReferring: now tothe drawings, the takeup mechanism includes a, cradle` indicated generally Aat lilLfwhich has adiscflike wheel II mounted :at

one,l end thereof andis centrally apertured to receive amaterial I 2 whichin. `the present embodi- :ment of :the invention is a lswitchboard cable formedA ofwaplurality of insulated electrical convdnctorszandcovered with suitable insulating material. `Ainaterial guide I4, with a central aperture I5 disposedgin alignment with the` central :opening t6 ,of the wheel III, is` supported by a lframen. carried thy the wheel. The wheel II is `fsupportedl'or rotation by rollers I8 mounted on `a:verticalframe I9 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and3.

Atopiroller 2l cooperates withthe rollers I8 to :hold the wheel in agiven position while rotating.

The opposite end :230i the cradle I0 is formed with `a hollow` spindle 24 `supported 4in a bearing ISI-whichis mounted in a, vertical frame 26. The

y 'spindle 24 is driven by a sprocket and chain' con- ``riection `21 from a main drive shaft 28 whichis 1driven `bist a suitable power means (not shown).

A cone center 30Iprovidedwith a locking pin J3I` to enter an aperture 32 in the adjacent head'iof "altakeupreel 33 is supported in its driving unit134 which in turn is mounted in the side 35 of fthe `critdlefll; A movable cone center 31 is supported byfthesidel38 `of the cradle I IJ and through the aid lof a hand wheell39 this cone center may be moved yrelative to thev driving cone center 30 to cause the-cone centers to enter the hubs of the reel 33 lto"`support=the reel for rotation about the` axis of the `cone centers. "In the unit'34 a `gear 40 is `rrntluntedon-a-spindle'portionof the cone center Hand is drivenby a pinion 4I. The pinion 4I is mounted on Ia shaftiwith a beveled gear 43 which is drivenby a beveled gear 44 mounted on a shaft upon each side of the cone centers 38 and 31. The purpose of the rods 56 is to support the reelv I 33 when initially lowered into the carriage I0 and to position the hubs of the reel whereby relative movement of the cone centers 30 and 31 will cause them to enter the hubs 'and lift the re'el lfree of the suapporting rods. AThe supporting rods are also present to receive and support the reel when it has been filled with the material or cable I2 and released from the cone centers. The material or cable l2 is distributed on the reel during operation of the mechanism by a dis- 'tributing unit 58 reciprocated between given limits and provided with guide pins 59, positioned upon each side of the materiall2, In" preparing the takeup mechanism for operation, an empty reel 33 is lowered into the carriage by a hoist or other suitable means and is positioned upon the supporting rods 56. The hubs 'of the reel 33 are automatically located inavertical'plane with the axes of the cone centers 3U and 31 with the axisof the reel' atthis time a short distance below the axes of the centers. The cone center 31, which has been moved to the 'right to allow for the reel to be positioned in the carriage, is now moved to the left to engage the adjacent hub `of the reel, move the reel until the l other hub engages cone center'30 and the aperture 32 of the reel is positioned adjacent the locking pin 3 I. 'Continued movement of the cone -center 31 to the left until the cone centers are seated in the hubs vof the reel will result in the reel being raised from the supporting rods 56 where it may be rotatedf. The leading end of the-cable is securedttc the reel and located between .the guide pins 59 of the distributorV unit 58. The mechanism is now; in readiness for operation. The main shaft 28 is driven by a suitable 4means (not shown) to drive the cradle and other units positioned in advance of the takeup mech- -which is at. right angles tothe reel axis, causing :rotation of the material about the centerlineof its path of advancement. While the cradle roztates, one end including the spind1e24'is supported by the bearing 25,'while the other end including the Wheel l I isv supported bythe rollers II8 assisted by the roller 2|,

The motor 53 is energized immediately upon rotation ofthe cradle I to drve-the reel. The hydraulic coupling Iv has been previously adjusted depending upon the size of the cable I2 and the torque required Yto create. a predetermined tension in the cable. The driving means between the motor 53 and the reel extends through the hollow spindle 24 and into the-carriage Where it finally terminates aty the cone center 30, which is assistedby the locking pin 3| in driving the reel in a direction to take up the material or cable thereon. When thev reel is i'lll'ed, thevmechanism is stopped and the carriage is again located in the position shown in the drawings. The operator may then 'move the cone center 31 to the right, freeing the vreel and allowing it to come to rest upon the supporting rods 56. The cable may then be cut, securing the outer end of the cable to the reel after which the full reel may be removed lfrom the carriage and ano'ther'empty reel insertedin its place.

It is to vbe understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles lof the invention and fall Within the spirit and scope thereof.

Whatis claimed is:

l. A takeup mechanism comprising a cradle, relatively movable centers carried by the cradle to support a takeup reel for rotation about its axis, means in the cradle to support the reel before the reel is mounted between the centers and after it is vreleased from .the centers, means to: rotate the cradle f abouty Yan 'axis' `extending transversely of the reel axis, and means tozsimultaneously -drive one of the centers' to rotate the reel about its axis to Wind material thereon;

2. A takeup mechanism comprising -a cradle, 'relatively' movablefcenters carried by thecradle to support a takeup reel for rotation vabout its axis, spaced bars carried by the cradle and disposed parallel with each other and with the axis of the reel to support the reel for mounting between the centers and to receive the reel when released from theA centers,-means Vto rotate the lcradle about anaxsextending transversely of the reel axis, and means to simultaneously drive one ofthe centers to rotate the reel about its axis to `wind material thereon.' 1 f 3. A takeupv mechanism comprisinga vcradle having a hollow spindle at one end thereof and a Wheel at the other end thereof centrallyA apertured for longitudinally advancing material` to travel therethrough *.in a given path, means to rotatably support the wheel, means to rotatably support kthe spindle, means .to drive tlrespindle to rotate the cradle about a given axis, relatively movable centers mounted inl the sides of the cradle to support a takeup reel for the material rotatable about its axis which is coincident with the'axesof the centers anddisposed at an angle 'with respectV to thecradle axis, spaced bars car.- ried bythe cradle and disposed parallel with each other and withthe axis of the reel to support the reel for mounting betweenthe centers and, to receive the'reel when released from the centers. and means extending,Av int-o 'the cradle through the hollow spindle-to drive one of the centers 'to rotate the reel about its axis to cause winding of thematerial on thereel during rotation ofthe cradle. v Y Q rHARRY H."MERWIN.

AXELC. NYSTROM.

.REFERENCES v'CITED j The' following references are-of record in the lle of this patent: Y' *L g l UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number vName Date 2,237,708 Reynolds etal. 1 `June 23, 1942 2,339,811 Merwin f, l- June 25, 1944 

